WHY.

Success starts when you answer this key question and take the next steps to live out the response.

WORDS BY AYESHA HAMILTON, ESQ.

WHAT’S YOUR WHY? Not the Why about your kids or family or all the politically correct things we are supposed to say as working women. Those are valid Whys but not the one I am talking about. What is your career Why? This is bigger than your job Why, which is really about the paycheck and the promotion. Often, we get lost in the grind of doing the job, that we forget to think about our careers.

What’s my career Why? To actually live the lift as you rise phrase. I am an immigrant. I am a lawyer. I am a litigator. I run my own business. I work for myself.

IF I BRING MY POSSE WITH ME, THEN I AM NOT ALONE. AND THERE IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

I am married. I have two teenage children. I am a woman of color. Like you, I am often the only person who looks like me in a room. I used to hear “you’ll get it next time” or “you’re too aggressive.” In my short stint in politics, I heard, “It’s not your turn yet.” And I let those statements guide my journey; I listened, I bought into it, I took a seat. And nothing. And ultimately, I learned two lessons: (a) that nothing good ever comes from waiting your turn; and (b) they can only get away with that if there is one of you in the room. If I bring my posse with me, then I am not alone. And there is safety in numbers.

While our day jobs are stressful and often filled with unpleasant people, your Why keeps you grounded, professional and calm. Whether it’s written on a post-it on your desk or reflected in the volunteer work you do to advance professionally, your Why will help you get through the day. While that Why isn’t always present in the types of cases I take, it is always present in my professional activities.

Organizations like WOCIP provide exactly that Why. As women of color, there aren’t many places where the entire organization is focused on your mission and your professional Why. So, your best bet at success is to make sure that WOCIP gets stronger, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the industry. And once you join, don’t just be a name on a list, be THAT face on the dais. Get involved, get visible and get known. Look around the room at faces that look like you and then vow to bring them with you on your journey.

So, my wish for you is that you find your Why, shine your light bright and lift as you rise.

MY WHY

As an employment lawyer, I live my Why every single day. I advocate for women and minorities in the workplace. I also represent small businesses to guide them on best practices for their workplaces. I get to wake up every morning and work on cases I truly believe in; my work makes the workplace better for those who come next. I live my Why with my professional volunteer work. I sit on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Mercer County Bar Association, organizations that used to be almost exclusively white and male. I serve on the Judicial Appointments Committee for the State Bar making sure that diverse perspectives are considered in the vetting and selection of NJ’s judiciary. I pay attention to the way in which I am perceived and received since my presence and conduct in the “room” matters for those following me. And I make a special effort to applaud my WOC colleagues achievements. We are a powerful network and must act like it. I will not give up the fight that our mothers started for us; the battle is far from won.